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Ukraine has seen a plethora of militarized vehicles under the current geopolitical scenario, but none have gained as much attention as the Volga sedans. Lets take a look inside a Ukrainian ‘monster garage’ where Volga sedans turn into battle wagons.
Alexander Darushin’s involvement with the War Zone started with a Volga sedan. The demonstration video that went viral earlier this month included a model of a GAZ-24-10 Volga from the Soviet era with a remote-controlled KPVT 14.5 mm heavy machine gun mounted to its back, so this was not just any Volga sedan.
The weird technology, which you can read more about in our original piece here, was developed especially for Ukrainian military as they protect their nation against Russian attackers and resembles something out of the Mad Max universe.
Both the Volga and the KPVT machine gun were developed in the Soviet Union, which provides Ukrainians with a sense of poetic justice because units are now employing them to fend off Russian attacks. The vehicle-mounted KPVT machine gun is a variation of the original KPV machine gun, which was first developed in the 1940s.
Although several of these weapons’ designs naturally lend themselves to mounting machine guns on the backs of vehicles, doing so with a Volga is unquestionably unusual.
To support the KPVT’s armament, the Volga, which debuted in 1985, also underwent a significant overhaul. As a result, the sedan’s chassis received a new set of off-road tires, a suspension that was dramatically raised, and a bull bar that was mounted up front. Unquestionably inventive, and The War Zone leaped at the chance to show it out.
#Ukraine: The most incredible technical of the Ukrainian forces so far – a Soviet GAZ-24-10 Volga sedan with a remote controlled weapon station module consisting of a KPVT 14.5mm heavy machine gun. pic.twitter.com/rt2ALkgD0S
— 🇺🇦 Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) June 8, 2022
The War Zone was approached by Darushin through email a day after the piece went online, and he revealed that the gun-toting vintage car was the creation of a company called SteelTec Group. Darushin then revealed that he and his coworkers are metalworkers, mechanics, engineers, and welders who have now joined forces to construct Ukraine’s wartime body shop under the direction of Dmitriy Albul, who established SteelTec Group as part of his American company Advanced Metal Structures (AMS).
According to the company’s website mission statement, AMS appears to be primarily focused on creating more aesthetically pleasing metal products for civilian environments, such as fences and gates, and leaves SteelTec Group to handle the majority of the improvisatory strategic development for Ukrainian forces.
However, it does not seem like SteelTec has an official website. As an alternative, Darushin sent us a link to an Instagram account, with the bio “Ukrainian engineering and construction company that provides design and production of metal structures for every taste!” as the first line.
One of SteelTec Group’s most recent projects, a Fiat Brava, can be seen in one of the photos posted to the account, which also includes a lot of development shots of the Volga’s transformation into a reinforced battle buggy.
This is the third vehicle provided by supporters and converted for use by the Ukrainian Army, according to the caption, and if it resembles the Volga in any way, it will undoubtedly pack a punch. While crowdsourced and technical materials have undoubtedly been widely used during the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, SteelTec Group is undoubtedly establishing a name for itself by fusing the two.
Darushin offered to address some of our questions regarding SteelTec Group and what he and his colleagues are working on to support Ukrainian ground forces after exchanging a few initial emails. The queries The War Zone posed and Darushin’s emails responses are included below.
Emma: Could you explain who you are and your role in the conflict with Russia?
Alexander: Before the invasion of the troops of the Russian Federation into Ukraine, we were engaged in engineering, fabrication of building structures for civil and industrial use, sports equipment, decor, etc.
But on February 24, 2022, everything changed, we decided to keep the workshop working and switched to fabrication of products needed for military units, territorial defense, police, and volunteer organizations. These were anti-tank hedgehogs, spikes and thorns against tires, helped to produce a batch of plates for bulletproof vests, as well as various gratings, fortifications, and so on.
Emma: What’s your official title? Who do you work for, and what do yout think your future will hold?
Alexander: Dmitriy Albul is the founder and CEO of those companies, I oversee operations. In process were involved our shop crews – the head of production, welders, mechanics, a painter, and a machining treatment specialist, as well as a team of mechanical engineers.
Emma: Do you have any way to verify your identity?
Alexander: Our Chief Crew recorded a short video. Let me know if this is sufficient or if other confirmations are required.
Watch the video below:
Emma: Why did the team decide to use the Volga? Is it out of necessity or preference?
Alexander: The situation at the front is rapidly changing, our assistance must meet current needs, so, quite spontaneously, this project began. In collaboration with the local administration, the military, and volunteers, we have found some parts for future projects.
From the available, our mechanics chose the Volga. Literally the next day they fired it up and we decided to use this base for a pilot project. This decision was dictated by the quick availability of spare parts, compatibility between models of this era, and, most importantly, speed of implementation.
Emma: What other vehicles have you or your colleagues turned or planned to turn into technicals?
Alexander: Ukrainian defenders need transport, it must be reliable, passable, and easy to maintain. We can work with any base; we have several cars in the works that were given to us by volunteers.
Here is one of the interesting vehicles we obtained recently. A GAZ-67B.
Also, our engineers proposed to manufacture a light military vehicle based on a welded frame using factory parts in terms of chassis and transmission.
- Maximum power – 90 horsepower
- Rear Driving Axle
- Number of seats – 2
- Length/width/height in mm – 3800/1900/1540
- Base – 2700 mm
- Front/rear wheel track in mm – 1530/1510
- Ground clearance (clearance) – 350 mm
- Suspension travel – 280 mm
- Curb weight – 600 kg
- Tire size – R15 65/195
Emma: Do you make these technicals for a specific unit of Ukrainian forces? In other words, where do they go once you and your team are done with them?
Alexander: This Volga is intended for a certain military unit. Also, other military and volunteers have already shown interest.
Emma: My colleagues and I are really curious about the remote-controlled aspect of the Volga technical’s gun, could you explain how you pulled that off and what the technology is behind it?
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Alexander: Currently this car is passing firing tests and we will share more details once everything is set up. But this can be done with a 12v hydraulic power pack, 3 valves, hydraulic cylinder, hydraulic motor (or large gear pump), preferably gear and chain drive. Easy to do but too much experimenting.
Another view of this ingenious improvised solution! pic.twitter.com/4VAEkaVcKA
— 🇺🇦 Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) June 8, 2022
Emma: What is in high demand for engineers and welders during this time?
Alexander: We will be grateful for any help. For the implementation of this and future projects, we will gladly accept donations in a convenient currency or metal, engines, chassis parts, wheels, or consumables and tools. Dmitriy has a Private Charitable Foundation, any donations made to it will be tax-deductible. Also, you can contact us if anyone would like to help somehow.
Emma: What do you and your team need?
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Alexander: Peaceful sky above our heads and the opportunity to continue doing what we love.
Article cross-posted from Great Game India.
Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
